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Meaning & use

get

verb·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ɡet/
US/ɡet/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    To obtain, receive or come to have something.

    Grammar: Takes an object: get a ticket.

    Patterns

    • get something
    • get something for someone

    I need to get some milk on the way home.

    She got a letter from her cousin this morning.

    Can you get me a glass of water?

  2. verblinking

    To become, reaching a new state or condition.

    Grammar: Followed by an adjective: it got dark.

    Patterns

    • get tired
    • get used to something

    It gets dark early in winter.

    He got angry when the bus was late.

    I am getting hungry, so let us eat.

  3. verbintransitive

    To arrive at or reach a place or point.

    Grammar: Needs a place word: get to the station, get home.

    Patterns

    • get to somewhere
    • get home

    We got to the airport an hour early.

    When did you get home last night?

    How do I get to the library from here?

  4. verbtransitiveinformal

    To understand an idea, joke or explanation.

    Grammar: Takes an object, often it: I get it.

    Patterns

    • get it
    • get the point

    I did not get the joke at first.

    Do you get what she is trying to say?

    He finally got the point of the lesson.

Word forms

third person singulargets
past tensegot
past participlegot (UK) / gotten (US)
-ing formgetting

Common combinations

get ready
Get ready, because the bus leaves in five minutes.
get a job
He wants to get a job after graduation.
get along with
She gets along with everyone in the office.
get over
It took weeks to get over the flu.
get the point
Do you get the point of the exercise?

Synonyms and how they differ

obtain
Obtain is formal and suggests some effort, while get is casual and works everywhere.
receive
Receive is used when something is given to you, whereas get also covers things you earn or buy.
become
Become is more formal than get for changing state, as in become angry versus get angry.

Opposites

givelose

Word family

getaway noun
a short holiday or an escape
getter noun
someone who gets, as in go-getter
forget verb
to fail to remember
beget verb
to bring into being

Commonly confused: get or gain?

get vs gain

Gain suggests a slow increase in something good, such as weight or knowledge, while get is general.

Practice

Which sentence uses get to mean become?

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